Thank you for the reviews! And thank you for not killing me! I know you guys are angry with me for killing Foolish and Idiot, though. I'll make up to it, I promise. Read on…
"Where's your brother?" Thranduil asked his elder son. Keldarion pointed. "Somewhere up in that big tree. Brooding."
"How long has he been there?"
"Since after the funeral, which means this morning."
The king sighed. "You know how to make him come down?" Keldarion turned to his father and smiled sadly. "Apart from shooting at him…no."
The two ferrets were given a proper burial considering how dear they were to Legolas, being the prince's pets and all. Also, the elves could not forget the animals' heroic deeds in helping the royal family to escape from the witch's captivity by providing the key to their cell. Foolish and Idiot were such pests to the Mirkwood household; stealing the food, munching on the king's pillow, running under the ladies skirts and such; but still, they were adored for their charming antics. Legolas never experienced the lost of his loved ones, so he took their death very deeply. The Mirkwood elves could only felt for their beloved prince in sympathy, hoping he'll recover from his grieve.
Sighing again, Thranduil called out, "Legolas?" No answer. Only the sound of the night breeze singing in the air can be heard, like a lament to the two adorable creatures.
Legolas heard his father's call, but he was not ready to answer. No, not yet. He was still trying to accept the lost of his friends; the agonizing feeling was very alien to him. His mother died while giving birth to him, so he never knew the hard outcome of death then. But now, everything was so painful, nearly unbearable. Never would he hear their silly noises again, never would he feel their nuzzling noses against his cheeks.
He didn't know how long he was in that tree, but when he looked up, it was already dark. He spent the day without shedding a single tear, just like yesterday noon after they'd brought Foolish and Idiot home. But why does my heart felt like it was shredding to pieces. Why can't I cry to make it better?
Getting up to his feet, he jumped nimbly from branch to branch, though his steps lack its usual joyfulness. For no apparent reason, he found himself landing gracefully onto his father's balcony. Opening the balcony door, he walked in. The king's chamber was empty; he must still be downstairs having dinner. Taking off his soft boots, Legolas lowered himself onto the huge bed.
And that was how Thranduil found his youngest child; curled up in a fetal position, fast asleep. He looked so angelic that way, with his long hair fanned out like spun gold. His chest rose up and down steadily, his arms hugging a pillow like it was a lifesaver.
Slowly and silently, Thranduil sat down on the bed beside his son, staring at Legolas's tranquil face all the while. The king reached out to stroke his son's hair, but retracted his hand reluctantly. He had not the heart to wake the prince; so peaceful Legolas looked in his sleep. Dragging a big chair near to the bed, the king settled himself comfortably and dozed off.
**************
No, not again!! Legolas wanted to scream but no voice came out. He was bound in chain again, his body all sore and bloodied. But this time, he was forced to watch as Arulin grabbed the ferrets by their ears and smashed them repeatedly to the hard wall, again and again and again. With blood sprinkled out from their shattered skulls, Foolish and Idiot could only make tiny sound of distress. Then they went silent, no more life within them. Legolas found his voice then. "No, Arulin! Stop!!!!"
"Legolas! Wake up, my son. Wake up!"
Legolas blinked and stared into his father's bewildered face. "Father?" he croaked, sitting up. "What are you doing here?"
Thranduil cocked his head to the side, smiling faintly. "What am I doing here? This is my chamber if you must know." Legolas looked around in surprise. "Yeah, right. Sorry," he said sheepishly.
The king looked deeply into his son's silver eyes and saw terror and sadness there. "You were having nightmares?" Legolas lowered down his head, suddenly feeling so ashamed of his weakness. Thranduil cupped his son's chin and gently raised the prince's head until their eyes met. "How long have you been having them?"
The prince looked away, too disturbed by his father's keen eyes. "Quite a while," he answered shortly.
"Since that day?" Knowing which horrific day his father was referring to, Legolas nodded hesitantly. He then asked, "Father, when mother died, how did you feel?"
For a whole minute, Thranduil was stunned into silence. Lady Marwana's death happened 2,500 years ago, but it felt like only yesterday to him. Actually, the loss was still too painful to bear, but the child looked so much like his queen that the pain lessened somewhat. Thranduil only need to look at Legolas's face to cure his longing for her. His son's question brought back those tragic memories of the day when Legolas was delivered into this world.
It was a difficult birth; Legolas was born prematurely. The midwives can't stop the heavy bleeding, and they nearly lost the baby too for he was so tiny and weak. In the end, only the baby survived, while Marwana departed that very night. Thranduil could still remember how he cried for days, ignoring his realm, ignoring Keldarion and his newborn son. The baby was yet to be given a name.
Then Keldarion came to him, cradling his baby brother in his arms. "Father, my brother needs a name. Are you going to name him or shall I?"
Thranduil looked at Keldarion's determined eyes. The boy was only 1,000 years old, only an adolescent, but wiser than he should be. Drying up his eyes, the king asked, "What would you like to call him?"
"Legolas, the green leaf. He will be our hope and future, never easily defeated, always stands strong like the magnificent trees in the woods, and beautiful like the nature," Keldarion answered whole heartedly. Thranduil was humbled to hear those words. Keldarion had just lost his mother, but the boy accepted it maturely, even tough his young heart was bleeding inside.
Gathering his two sons close to his heart, the king whispered, "Then Legolas it is."
"Father?"
Thranduil was startled out of his reverie when Legolas called him. He turned to look at his son's questioning eyes, and smiled. "When she died, I felt like dying too. I'm lucky I still have you and Keldarion, for you are my joy and light. I'll never be in the dark as long as I have you both."
"Then I will get through this? This agonizing pain within my heart?" Subconsciously, Legolas touched his chest, tears started to flow from his eyes.
Nodding, the king grabbed his son into his arms, hugging him comfortingly. "Yes, my son. You will in time. This I promise you." They stay that way for quite a long time, with Legolas pouring out all his heartache and sorrow in heavy tears like he'd never done before.
Alas, the nightmares didn't return that night.
**************
Legolas went missing the next day. He was neither in the king's chamber nor his own. He was not inside the palace walls or within the area. Keldarion found out later that Legolas's favorite bow and quiver of arrows, as well as his twin blades, were also missing.
Shaking his head at his brother's restlessness, the crown prince went downstairs for breakfast. Inclining his head, he found that the morning was too quiet, not like usual. No cries of outrage, no shocking scream, no laughter, no chirping sounds…Keldarion rubbed a hand over his face. Valar! I'm going to miss those blasted creatures!
He was about to enter the royal dining hall when a maiden came forward, informing him that guests from Rivendell had just arrived. "The twins?" Keldarion rushed to the receiving hall.
"Elladan! Elrohir!" The two sons of Lord Elrond smiled to see him. They exchanged greetings in their usual exuberant ways, hugging and backslapping.
"I'm glad you received my message. I never thought you would get here this fast, though," said Keldarion, only half aware of another person accompanying the twins.
"Legolas is our friend, Kel. He doesn't need to grieve all alone," Elladan said, looking around. "Where is he?"
Keldarion sighed. "He's missing. Again. He keeps doing that these days, vanishing without telling anybody where he'll be."
The other person came forward then, pulling down the hood of her cloak. "No greetings for me, Keldarion?"
Keldarion stared open mouthed. "Arwen?" he looked her up and down. She was more radiant than ever. "What are you doing here?"
Elrond's only daughter looked him directly in the eye. "Is that your way in asking me to leave?"
"What? No! What made you think that way?"
Elladan and Elrohir were looking at this whole scene in amusement. They were whispering now, heads closed together. The only word that could be heard was, "Deal!" No doubt they were scheming a bet.
"Why didn't you come to my wedding…I mean, there was no wedding…but…Valar, Arwen! You know what I mean!" Keldarion was stuttering like a fool, much to the twins' great amusement. He glared at them.
"Do you think I will be happy to come to your wedding after that day you burned my hair?!" Arwen said indignantly, crossing her arms across her chest, raising her eyebrows in challenge.
Keldarion rolled his eyes. "That happened 1,000 years ago! You still having grudge about it?"
"Definitely! My hair was never straight again!" Arwen took a deep breath and calmed down. "Anyway, I just returned from Lothlorien. I heard all that had happened from my grandparents, how Legolas nearly died. I need to see him myself to be sure he's all right. He is, isn't he?"
Keldarion could only smiled sadly. "He was strong, very resilient considering all those terrible things that had been done to him. Yet, I can sense his restlessness and inner turmoil. He has been hiding his nightmares from us all. Now, this thing happened, I'm not sure how he's taking it this time."
Arwen looked beyond the opened door. "If I knew him correctly, he'll be out there deep in the woods, looking for answers."
TBC…